The parents of seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans have lost a last-ditch appeal in their fight to get their son treated in Italy.

A High Court judge had ruled that the boy should not be flown to a hospital in Rome for further treatment.

Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, have challenged the decision in a bid to get more care for Alfie after his life support was removed.

Tonight (April 25) the Court of Appeal rejected both appeals.

The judges gave rulings on the appeal grounds brought by the father first and then by Alfie's mother.

They have rejected all grounds raised by the parents.

Tom Evans and Kate James have fought a long legal battle to keep life support switched on for their son Alfie Evans, who has been in a coma suffering from an undiagnosed brain condition in Alder Hey Hospital for more than a year

Sir Andrew McFarlane, who is one of the highest-ranking family court judges in the UK, headed a panel of three judges at the London-based court.

He said: "This is awful for everyone concerned.

"We are in the middle of palliative care plan at Alder Hey Hospital. I can see no basis that judge was wrong."

The judges were told during the hearing that Alfie was “struggling” since being removed from life support on Monday evening.

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Lord Justice McFarlane pointed out during the hearing that “the only determining factor is the best interests" of the little boy, adding: “What rights others have, particularly the parents, falls into a subsidiary category...”

Earlier, Alfie's dad had said he would fight "all the way" to take his little boy abroad, saying he hoped the judges would overturn the previous decision.

High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden yesterday ruled out plans to fly Alfie to Rome, but urged British doctors to consider letting the tot go home .

However, Alfie's parents appealed against the judge's decision, claiming a German air ambulance team was "ready" to transport him to the city.

Speaking earlier today, Tom, from Liverpool, said he was still adamant that it was in his son's best interests to be transferred to an Italian hospital.

"Get him to Italy and we'll come back with him in a better condition than he's in now and I know they're not going to do that," he told the Liverpool Echo .

"They're not going to give him that chance.

"So I'm going to have to fight, legally, for that chance. I will all the way."

People gather outside Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in support of Alfie Evans, where the 23-month-old who has been at the centre of a life-support treatment dispute, is a patient (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Last night, the dad had claimed that an German air ambulance team was also "ready" to transport his son, who has a mystery brain condition, abroad.

And this afternoon, two people, believed to be members of the alleged air ambulance crew, were asked to leave Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

The man and woman, seen speaking to members of the Evans family, were escorted from the hospital by police and security staff.

More than 40 hours after Alfie's life support was withdrawn, the little boy continues to "fight" and has been breathing unassisted, his family say.

Alfie, who has an undiagnosed degenerative brain condition, had his ventilator removed on Monday night following a series of court rulings upholding the decision that continued life support was not in his best interests.

"He's more comfortable now he's got no tube and he's breathing for himself.

"I don't want to be big-headed and say 'I told you so' but we had to fight hard against this to say 'remove the drugs, remove the machine' and he's doing it now.

"He ain't showing no sign of suffering or that he needs support or anything."

Apparently positive about his son's condition, he added: "The nurses have been coming in to review him and they're happy he looks comfortable.

"He looks chilled. And that's what's the most important thing right now."

Tom told the Echo he and Kate are "happy" with how their son is doing.

Alfie has been at the centre of a life or death treatment battle for months, with his parents repeatedly trying to block doctors from withdrawing life support.

After failing in their bid, they have been trying to take him to Italy for treatment.

Tom said earlier today: "We hope that at two o'clock the judge says this has got to be overturned. We hope Justice Hayden allows us to go Italy and if not we still keep on with what we're doing and are allowed to get him home."

The dad confirmed he would not be attending today's hearing.

But he said he had sent the family's legal representatives a series of videos and pictures of Alfie's current condition to show the judges.

He added that he was "absolutely heartbroken" about yesterday's court decision.

"I can't believe Justice Hayden said to us after everything Alfie's doing that it's still not in his best interests," he told the Echo.

"If anything it's the utmost reasonable and reliable plan for Alfie right now because he's got nothing else so it is in his best interests definitely."